All signs point to running back signing with another team during free-agency period that begins Thursday

Published at 8:34 AM PST on Mar 9, 2017

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Running back Latavius Murray appears headed toward another team in free agency, perhaps as soon as Thursday. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)

Latavius Murray is young, talented and coming off a solid season in 2016, yet all reports indicate the Raiders running back will be allowed to sign with another team, as soon as Thursday.

With the annual free-agent signing period starting Thursday at 1 p.m., Murray – the team’s No. 1 running back who scored 12 touchdowns and gained 788 yards in 2016 – appears to have worn silver and black for the last time.

According to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Raiders will invest in a different free-agent running back to fill Murray’s slot, or get a ball carrier in the draft to complement last year’s rookie duo of Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington.

Tafur reported that head coach Jack Del Rio told the media at the NFL Combine last week that the Raiders like Murray and believe he can help them, as he did last year when the team went 12-4 and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

But with the team needing to spend to improve its defense and lock up quarterback Derek Carr and NFL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack to long-term contracts, a more expensive deal to retain Murray just may not be workable.